Creek Coastal Flooding

These pictures document flooding at the boat launching ramp across from the Stony Creek post office. The upper left photo was taken was at a full moon tide, April 18, 2018 . Flooding occurs when high tides from either full or new moons are augmented by east winds, such as from a nor’easter, which drive a rising tidal surge westward from the eastern end of Long Island Sound at the Race. So-called nuisance coastal flood frequency has increased significantly, from a few times every couple years to several times a year due to rising sea levels. Lunar tidal extremes also occur at new moons, and the other photos are from September 9, 2018, when the high tides reached 7 feet above the mean-low-tide mark, 2 feet above normal.